By land or by sea, Parson's Landing campground is a real getaway

Couple recharges with four days out of rat race

Here's the view overlooking the beach area at Parson's Landing on Catalina Island.

Jeffrey Dransfeldt / Special to The Star

We finally made it around the wind-battered point, and the sight of our final destination came more into focus.

After paddling through the Pacific Ocean for more than three hours, our tired arms and weary eyes needed a break. After we were helped off our kayaks into the cool ocean water by a sizable wave, we made our way onto dry land.

The first part of our journey was complete. Our outdoor adventure was just beginning.

This July my fiancée, Danielle Goeden, and I set out for Catalina Island to camp at Parson's Landing, a primitive and secluded campground on the west end of the island.

I've spent time camping, but it has mainly been limited to my days in Cub Scouts. My kayaking experience was nonexistent. Being athletic, and open to new challenges, I welcomed the opportunity to spend four days away from society in a more natural, relaxed setting.

Parson's Landing provided an ideal location with eight campsites spread along the sandy shoreline. Up above the campsites, hiking trails offered opportunities for travelers to visit different parts of the island.

Reaching Parson's Landing is part of the adventure. Visitors can either hike in about seven miles or kayak from Two Harbors. We chose the latter.

We took the 8 a.m. ferry on the Catalina Express from San Pedro to Two Harbors. The hour-and-15 minute ride took us through Avalon on our way to our destination.

Once we landed, we scooped up our bags and checked in at the Two Harbors Visitors Center. We then picked up our kayaks from the Two Harbors Dive and Recreation Center. Kayaks can be rented for hourly, daily and extended rentals.

We rented two single Scupper Pro kayaks ($73 each for 24 hours, and $36 for each additional 24 hours).

The kayaks come with hatches that provided ample room to store all our camping gear.

Goeden researched Internet blogs of previous traveler's experiences and created a spreadsheet of everything we needed. We packed our hatches full with our sleeping bags, tent and food.

We bought water from the Two Harbors General Store. We also bought extra keys for lockers at Parson's Landing that contain two and a half gallons of water and a bundle of firewood.

With our kayaks packed, we pushed our crafts into the water and set our 4.5-mile ride. The rowing motion took some getting used to as I dipped the double-sided paddle into the water on one side and then the other in rhythm.

For me, speed wasn't an issue as my kayak glided through the clear blue-green water. Learning to turn and move straight ahead took some extra time to get used to. Large kelp beds also made paddling difficult at times.

We hugged the coastline as we paddled with seals sticking their heads up occasionally. Coves line the journey to Parson's Landing, and we stopped at Big Geiger, before paddling through Emerald Bay.

Arrow Point fits its name with land jutting out sharply from Catalina Island, and with growing swells it made for the most challenging part of our journey — and it made Danielle seasick.

Once we passed Arrow Point, we went by a small cove before landing at Parson's Landing. We didn't realize it until we arrived, but Parsons Landing also doubles as a site for a Boy Scout camp Mondays through Thursdays.

It's an important detail. Our stay wasn't as quiet or secluded as we had imagined. Boy Scouts and parents arrived each morning at 9 a.m. and left the following morning at 5 a.m.

We set up camp at the edge of the beach with our tent sitting a few feet from a picnic table and fire pit.

Camping provides the perfect distraction from the daily electronic distractions of home. My cellphone had no reception. My laptop was nowhere to be found. By nightfall, our light came from flashlights and campfire.

Daylight and the sun beaming down on our tent woke us between 7:30 and 8 a.m. When we emerged, the view from our tent provided a clear view of the translucent green water.

If you walked west from our site and around a bend, a cove awaited visitors with a sea cave for snorkelers to explore.

On our second day, we hiked up above the campsite for a panoramic view of the beach below.

Cooking proved to be challenging at first. Wind blowing across the beach made starting a fire difficult, so we built up a side of the fire pit with extra rocks providing a small enclosure.

With our fire successfully burning, we created banana boats. We cut bananas down the center, inserted pieces of Hersey's chocolate, wrapped them in foil and placed them near the flames in the coals.

Our days unfolded in a relaxed fashion. With books to read, quality company and nature surrounding us, it provided the ideal getaway.

We stayed for four days. We left on a Friday morning, dipped our kayaks into the green-blue water and curled our way around Catalina Island and into Two Harbors to await our ferry home.